Yukon Territory 07/11/13 newsminer.com: From a report by Rich Landers – Cyclist William “Mac” Hollan, 35, was halfway through his 2,750-mile bicycle trip to Prudhoe Bay when a gray wolf sprinted from the woods 60 miles west of Watson lake in pursuit of Hollan, apparently deciding the Sandpoint, Idaho, elementary school student-teacher looked like a reasonably decent dinner. Initially, Hollan believed he could out-race the wolf, but he soon discovered that would not be easy. Hollan even spritzed the wolf with bear spray several times, forcing the wolf to drop back 20-or-so feet, only to move up again in hot pursuit.

Author’s Note: A similar incident happened on June 8 in British Columbia when a wolf chased a motorcyclist on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park. – See June 14, 2013 blog post: CANADA: WOLF chases motorcyclist in BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Canada:

British Columbia 07/12/13 news1130.com: by Mike Lloyd and John Strell – A man carrying a bag of fast food near downtown Mission was lucky to walk away pretty much unhurt after he was attacked by ablack bear yesterday. Elias Hart was taken completely by surprise while walking along a trail near Cedar Valley Connector and 6th Avenue. “I thought I was done! You hear about bear attacks but I never thought it would happen to me, right?” he tells News 1130. “I turned around to run and it knocked me down and then luckily, there was a fence there. So I grabbed onto the fence and started yelling at the bear as loud as I could.” Hart says he got up and started waving his arms at the bear; that’s when it swatted at his leg. “As I got up to turn around and run again, it kept chasing me and chasing me.” The bear gave up as they approached a busy road. Hart is stunned it happened so close to downtown Mission. – For complete article see http://www.news1130.com/2013/07/12/bear-attack-in-mission/

Author’s Note: According to a report by CBC, Conservation officers were trying to track the bear on Friday and said it will be destroyed if caught because it was so aggressive.

California 07/12/13 Yolo County: The Sheriff’s Department is on the lookout for two dogs following an apparently random Chihuahua attack Friday morning in Esparto. According to a news release, a man was bitten at around 7:30 a.m. “by one of two small-sized white-and-tan long-haired Chihuahua mix dogs which charged at the victim from an empty lot in the area of the 25000 block of Duncan Drive.” The dogs ran off and were last seen heading northward from that area. The unidentified man was not seriously injured. However, county officials said, “Finding the offending animal may prevent post-exposure rabies treatment for the victim” – a treatment which can involve a painful series of shots. Anyone with information on the Esparto Chihuahuas is asked to contact the county Animal Services Section at 668-5287 or at animal.bite@yolocounty.org. – See http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_23649905/county-seeks-chihuahua-rabies-test-following-esparto-attack

Florida 07/10/13 Palm Beach County: A sickly feral cat that bit and scratched twowomen who were putting out food for birds and stray cats in Palm Springs on July 3rd has tested positive for rabies. The women apparently did not report the incident until one of them returned three days later and found the cat that bit them had died. The cat roamed in the area east of Congress Avenue and west of Florida Mango between Forest Hill Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. – See http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/breaking-news/women-exposed-to-rabies-after-feeding-stray-cat-in/nYk37/

Maryland 07/11/13 Frederick County: Two foxes found in Thurmont within the last week have tested positive for rabies. The first fox attacked a man between Thurmont and Graceham on July 4th, and the second fox was involved in a fight with dogs on Meadow Lane on July 8th. – See http://your4state.com/fulltext?nxd_id=317252

Wisconsin 07/11/13 Sheboygan County: Sheboygan police are seeking the owner of a dog that playfully bit a woman Tuesday evening on Michigan Avenue (in the City ofSheboygan) to determine whether the dog has rabies. Police said in a news release Thursday that the dog, described as a tan and white pit bull, or similar breed, bit a woman at about 7:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Michigan Avenue. The woman told police she was bit on the arm after kneeling down to greet the dog, which was on a leash. The woman described the bite as playful. The dog’s owner, or anyone with information on the incident, should contact the Sheboygan Police Department, at 920-459-3333. – See http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20130711/SHE0101/307110196/Sheboygan-police-seek-owner-dog-bit-woman-Tuesday

Jerry Genesio

Author of "UNSEEN HAZARDS That Threaten Hunters, Campers, and Hikers: What you should know about pathogens commonly found in wildlife."

This is where wildlife and healthcare professionals, hunters, campers, hikers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts will find interesting information about natural unseen hazards that place them at risk. As my book focused exclusively on Rabies, Tetanus (Lockjaw), Tularemia (Rabbit Fever), Brucellosis (Undulant Fever), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Borrelia (Lyme Disease), posts regarding these six diseases will be limited to more recent developments and items of interest that were not included or were not available when the book was published in June of 2009. Topics will also include Chronic Wasting Disease, West Nile Virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and other diseases of particular interest to those who work and play in the great American outdoors.

Don’t Be Afraid – Be Aware!

The Natural Unseen Hazards blog is available to all free of charge and is maintained as a public service.

If you have questions related to pathogens commonly found in wildlife, e.g. the disease caused by a specific pathogen, hosts, vectors, symptoms, treatment, territorial range, etc., please comment here or e-mail to jerrygenesio@gmail.com and I will attempt to provide answers.

"Chance favors the prepared mind."
Louis Pasteur

Unless otherwise noted, images have been provided by the CDC Public Health Image Library, Wikimedia Commons, the National Park Service or other government agencies, Bing.com, and/or Google.com.

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Marie Curie

"It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret."
Jackie Joyner Kersee